Malaria, dengue and chikungunya are the widespread mosquito-borne diseases that people all over the world are concerned about. All of these illnesses have quite severe symptoms which are almost similar to each other.
Dengue and chikungunya are viral diseases with similar symptoms. Patients having dengue or chikungunya show symptoms such as high fever, headache, eye pain, joint pain, rashes and lethargy. The former is caused by dengue virus while the latter is caused by Alphavirus.
Identifying the exact illness is essential since dengue can be fatal and may need emergency medical care. It is also possible for a patient to have dengue and chikungunya at the same time.
Symptoms of Dengue:
The signs and symptoms of dengue fever include severe joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes which increases with eye movement, nausea and fatigue with the feeling of prostration.
Other symptoms include headache, low blood pressure, sudden high fever, mild bleeding from the nose or gums, exhaustion, skin rashes, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and groin region, and difficulty in breathing.
The presence of fever, rash and headache is a characteristic of dengue fever. The incubation period for dengue fever is of 3 to 7 days while the disease can last from 4 to 7 weeks. Dengue is a life-threatening disease as it results in complications such as shock, difficulty in breathing and heavy bleeding can occur.
Symptoms of Chikungunya:
The typical chikungunya symptoms include fever (more than 102 degrees) and severe joint pains in the feet, ankles, wrists and hands with mild swelling.
Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain with fatigue, sore throat, eye pain with conjunctivitis, severe back pain and skin rashes.
Chikungunya does not result in death, but the body pain that comes with the disease might be present for several months. Chikungunya often occurs in newborns caused at the time of birth, and also in older adults and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or any heart-related disease. The incubation period for chikungunya virus is 1 to 12 days while the disease duration can vary from 1 to 2 weeks.
Though these symptoms may serve as a guideline for identification of the disease, blood tests need to be carried out to confirm a specific disease.
Preventive Measures:
The best way to protect yourself and your family from these diseases is to prevent mosquito bites. Wear long-sleeved clothing and eliminate any sources of stagnant water, both in your house and outside.
You can use the 2x power of Goodknight Gold Flash at home to keep mosquitoes away and prevent your house from becoming a hotspot for mosquitoes. Also, before heading outside, make sure to apply 4 dots of the 100% natural Goodknight Fabric Roll-On on your clothes – this will protect you from mosquitoes for up to 8 hours.
These small steps will keep you protected from mosquito bites and consequently, diseases like dengue and chikungunya. Read up on the 5 Good Habits That Help Fight Dengue And Chikungunya.
